Photojournalist in Iran: 'I Felt Like a Stranger During the Ceasefire'

In Iran, the work of photojournalists like Rouzbeh Radfar (a pseudonym) is a testament to the courage required to document reality under immense pressure. For ZEIT, Radfar has been capturing the ongoing protests and the realities of war since 2021. His recent work, produced during a fragile two-week ceasefire, offers a stark glimpse into Tehran, described as a city under constant surveillance by checkpoints and plainclothes Revolutionary Guards.

Radfar's daily existence is fraught with the peril of being controlled or detained, having experienced interrogations and forced deletion of photos. The urgency of his work, especially during wartime, is amplified by the fear of intervention. Yet, he remains committed, driven by an unshakeable belief in the necessity of bearing witness to destruction, civilian casualties, and the resilience of life amidst conflict.

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I expect to be controlled or arrested at any time. This has happened several times in recent weeks, I was interrogated for several hours and released again. I had to delete photos or hand over memory cards.

This situation underscores a critical difference in how such stories are perceived. While international media might focus on geopolitical tensions, for us in Iran, Radfar's lens reveals the deeply personal and immediate impact of these events on ordinary lives. His photographs are not just images; they are acts of defiance, making the invisible visible and preserving a record that authorities might prefer to erase. The dedication of journalists like Radfar, working under such duress, is vital for understanding the true human cost of the ongoing struggles.

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Especially in the war, I had to work hastily, in constant fear that someone would intervene. But it is my job to document. I cannot ignore what I see: the destruction, the civilian victims, life in the war. I want to make it visible.